Belgium will extend its lockdown deadline until May 3 in the fight against the new coronavirus, the country's Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès announced, according to foreign media.
"The basic rules remain unchanged until May 3, and must be respected," she said in a press conference.
However, garden centers and do-it-yourself stores are allowed to reopen under the same conditions of social distancing as ordinary food stores.
There will be no mass events, such as summer festivals, until at least August 31. The police will continue to punish people who violate the measures.
The Belgian government in March announced the lockdown till April 19.
The country has nearly 35,000 confirmed cases so far, including 4,857 deaths.